Verdict: True. Whirlpool and LG both recommend running the washer's cleaning cycle about once a month, and Whirlpool's front-loaders even display a reminder after 30 cycles. Detergent and water alone don't keep the tub, gasket and hidden surfaces clean.
Where the idea comes from
It seems logical that a machine full of detergent would clean itself. Every load sends soapy water through the drum, so where would dirt build up? That reasoning makes the "Clean Washer" reminder look like a sales prompt, and many people press past it for months.
The catch is that modern washers use less water than older ones, and much of the soil, lint and detergent residue they remove has to go somewhere. Some of it stays behind in places the wash water barely reaches.
What the evidence says
Whirlpool's page on removing odors from the interior of a washer says to run the Clean Washer cycle "at least once per month or every 30 wash cycles, whichever occurs sooner." It explains that the cycle uses higher water volumes together with affresh washer cleaner or liquid chlorine bleach. The page also tells owners to use HE detergent, unload promptly and leave the door open between uses.
The CL code page for Whirlpool front-loaders confirms that the code is a reminder, not a fault. It appears after 30 cycles and clears once a cleaning cycle runs, or on its own after three more cycles.
LG reaches the same schedule. Its washer odor page recommends the tub clean cycle once a month to prevent odor and buildup, wiping the door gasket with an oxygen-based bleach, and leaving the door open to dry. It also notes that detergent may not dissolve completely in cold washes, which leaves buildup behind.
What to do instead
- Look up the cycle name in your manual: Clean Washer, Tub Clean or Self Clean are common.
- Use the product the manual names for that cycle. Whirlpool lists affresh or liquid chlorine bleach. Don't add laundry.
- Run it monthly, or sooner if the washer reminds you.
- Between cleanings, wipe the gasket, clean the dispenser and leave the door open.
- Measure detergent by the cap line, not by eye. Extra detergent is a common source of residue.
Exceptions worth knowing
- •Never combine cleaners. Use one product per cleaning cycle. Bleach mixed with an acid such as vinegar releases chlorine gas; our post on whether vinegar damages washer seals cites Whirlpool's warning.
- •Light users still need it. Whirlpool's "whichever occurs sooner" wording means a monthly cleaning even if you run only a few loads.
- •A smell that returns within days of a cleaning cycle can point to a slow drain or a clogged pump filter, which a cleaning cycle won't fix.
Sources
- •Whirlpool: Removing Odors from the Interior of a Washer (monthly or every 30 cycles; affresh or bleach)
- •Whirlpool: CL Code, Front Load Washer (reminder after 30 cycles)
- •LG: Washer odor (monthly tub clean; oxygen bleach on the gasket)
The short version: The cleaning reminder is real maintenance; run the cycle monthly with the product your manual names.
Still smelling sour, or draining slowly, after a cleaning cycle? Call (213) 787-3989 and TrueFix Los Angeles will take a look; we work on LG washers and the other major brands.